Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to heating systems, and
more particularly to such systems for heating wet dressings.
Wet dressings are commonly used for therapeutic purposes,
such as on abscesses and boils. The wet dressings are applied in
a heated state and serve to prevent tissue encrustation, and pro-
mote localized blood flow and fluid drainage, with the effect of
reducing swelling and its consequent pain. Such dressings are
commonly packaged in specially designed foil packs which are cap-
able of conducting and withstanding increased temperatures andinternal pressures during heating. After appropriate heating,
the dressings are removed from the packs, and are applied to the
patient.
In the past, the dressings are commonly heated through
use of radiant heating procedures. Thus, the packed dressings
may be stacked below a bulb which emits infrared rays in order to
heat the dressings in the foil packs. The upper pack of the
stacked packs remains below the heating bulb for a set period of
time, such as five minutes, after which the upper pack may be
removed and the underlying packs must be sequentially heated for
additional periods of time, such as three minutes each. Thus,
such prior devices require an extended period of time in order to
heat a series of wet dressings, and limit immediate access to a
plurality of heated dressings. Moreover, the heating device does
not permit storage of dressings in a heated condition, and the
dressings must be applied immediately after heating in order to
prevent their cooling prior to use. Further, one or more of the
wet dressings may be overheated due to lack of precise control
over the radiant heating procedure, resulting in possible dis-
comfort and harm to the patient when applied to the patient's
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tissue. In addition, the number of dressings which may be simul-
taneously heated is limited by the capabilities of the heating
device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENT ION
A principal feature of the present invention is the
provision of a system for heating wet dressings in an improved
manner.
The heating system of the present invention comprises,
a housing having a pair of first and second closure shells, with
each of the shells having a back wall and sidewalls extending
around the periphery of the associated back wall, and with the
back wall and sidewalls defining a cavity in each of the shells.
The system has hinge means connecting a sidewall of the first and
second shells and permitting movement of the shells between a
first open position of the housing and a second closed position
of the housing with the sidewalls of the shells mating and with
the shells defining a closed chamber. The system has first and
second heating elements, and means for supporting the heating ele-
ments in the housing with the first heating element being located
adjacent outer edges of the sidewalls in the first shell and sub-
stantially closing the cavity in the first shell, and with the
second heating element being located adjacent outer edges of the
sidewalls in the second shell and substantially closing the cav-
ity in the second shell. The heating elements closely face each
other in the second housing position such that they define a heat-
ing space intermediate the heating elements of the closed housing,
and the heating elements are widely spaced in the first housing
position for receipt of the dressings intermediate the heating
elements. The heating elements are at least partially free of
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attachment and define an access opening adjacent an outer end of
the respective shell relative the hinge means. The system has
first and second insulation members in the housing, with the
first insulation member being located intermediate the first
heating element and the back wall of the first shell and defin-
ing a narrow storage space intermediate the first heating element
and first insulation member, and with the second insulation mem-
ber being located intermediate the second heating element and the
back wall of the second shell and defining a narrow storage space
intermediate the second heating element and second insulation
member.
A feature of the present invention is that the housing
may be readily opened to its first position in order to place a
plurality of wet dressings intermediate the heating elements.
Another feature of the present invention is that the
housing may be closed, and the plural dressings may be simultane-
ously heated intermediate the closely spaced heating elements of
the closed housing.
A further feature of the invention is that the dress-
ings may be heated to a selected temperature in order to prevent
overheating of the dressings.
Still another feature of the invention is that the
heated dressings may be removed from the heating space and placed
into the storage spaces for subsequent use.
Yet another feature of the invention is that the dress-
ings are maintained at the selected temperature in the storage
spaces.
Thus, a feature of the invention is that a number of
dressings may be heated and stored at a precisely controlled
temperature over a period of time until desired for use.
A further feature of the present invention is that the
system minimizes the amount of heat loss during heating of the
dressings.
Further features will become more fully apparent in
the following description of the embodiments of this invention
and from the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a
heating system of the present invention illustrating a housing of
the system in an open configuration;
Fig. 2 is an exploded view, partly broken away, of the
heating system of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substanti-
ally as indicated along the line 3-3 of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the heating system of
Fig. 1 illustrating the housing in a closed conflguration;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially as indi-
cated along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the heating
system in an open configuration during placement of heated dress-
ings into storage spaces in the system; and
Figs. 7 and 8 are plan views, partly broken away, of
alternative heating elements for the heating system of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to Figs. 1-5, there is shown a heating
system generally designated 10 having a housing 12 comprising a
pair of opposed first and second shells 14a and 14b and opposed
first and second heating elements 16a and 16b. As shown, each
of the shells 14a and b has a respective back wall 18a and 18b,
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and sidewalls 20a and 20b extending around the periphery of the
associated back wall 18a and b, with the back walls 18a and b
and respective sidewalls 20a and b defining an associated cavity
22a and b in the shells. The housing 12 has a pair of hinges 24
connected between inner sidewalls of the shells 14a and b, such
that the housing shells 14a and b may be moved between a first
open position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and a second closed
position, as illustrated in Fig. 4. With reference to Fig. 1,
the housing 12 has a pair of pivoted connected links 26a and 26b
extending from the sides of the opposed shells 14a and b in order
to limit movement of the shells away from each other at the first
housing position. The housing 12 also has a pair of locking mem-
bers 28 of known type in order to releasably lock the shells 14a
and b together at the second housing position, as illustrated in
Fig. 5. The housing 12 may also have a plurality of resilient
bumpers or support members 30 extending outwardly from the inner
side walls of the shells 14a and b to provide support for the
housing when placed in an upright configuration in its closed
second position. It will be seen in connection with Figs. 4 and
5 that the sidewalls 20a and b of the respective shells 14a and
b mate with each other when the housing is in its closed second
position, such that the shells 14a and b define a closed chamber
32 in the housing. The housing may be made of any suitable
material, such as plastic or metal, as desired.
With reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 5, the heating sys-
tem lO has a pair of opposed insulation members 34a and 34b
adjacent the back walls 18a and b which may be made of any suit-
able material, such as inner foam sheets 36a and 36b covered by
a suitable fabric or sheets 38a and 38b. As shown, the insula-
tion members 34a and b preferably have dimensions approximately
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equal to the dimensions of the shell cavities 22a and b, such
that they cover the back walls 18a and b of the respective shells
14a and b. One or both of the insulation members 34a and b may
be spaced slightly from the associated shell back wall 18a or b
by a sheet 40 of suitable material which covers and protects wir-
ing in the housing, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5.
With reference to Figs. 1-3, and 5, the first and second
heating elements 16a and b substantially span the associated shell
cavities 22a and b, and are located adjacent outer edges 42a and
42b of the respective shell sidewalls 20a and b in a configuration
overlying the respective insulation members 34a and b. The heat-
ing elements 16a and b may be secured in place by any suitable
means, such as a plurality of associated elastic loops 44a and
44b connected between the respective heating elements 16a and b,
and inwardly directed bosses 46a and 46b spaced around the respec-
tive shell sidewalls 20a and b, as best shown in Fig. 3. The
elastic loops 44a and b interconnect the heating elements 16a and
b to the associated housing shells 14a and b, and bias the back
side of the heating elements 16a and b against the outer face of
the respective insulation members 34a and b. Thus, the heating
elements 16a and b contact the associated insulation members 34a
and b, and define a storage space or compartment 48a and 48b
intermediate the respective heating elements 16a and b and insu-
lation members 34a and b. Also, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
the elastic loops 44a and b are spaced from each other a substan-
tial distance along the outer edge of the heating elements 16a
and b, i.e., adjacent the locking members 28, such that the outer
edges of the heating elements 16a and b are free of attachment
from the housing shells 14a and b, and define access openings 50a
and 50b adjacent the outer ends of the respective housing shells
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14a and b which communicate with the respective storage spaces
48a and b. Thus, the elastic loops 44a and b may be expanded
slightly in order to move the heating elements 16a and b away
from the respective insulation members 34a and b and facilitate
placement of heated dressings through the access openings 50a
and b into the storage spaces 48a and b.
The front surfaces of the heating elements 16a and b
face each other in the closed housing, as shown in Fig. 5, and
define a relatively narrow heating space 52 when the housing is
in its second closed position. In a preferred form, as shown,
the front faces of the heating elements 16a and b in the closed
housing contact each other and compress against the dressings
during heating. Thus, with reference to Fig. 1, the housing 12
may be moved to its open position with the heating elements 16a
and b widely spaced from each other, such that a plurality of
wet dressing packs P may be placed on the outer surface of a
heating element, such as the heating element 16b, as shown. The
housing may be moved to its second closed position where the
heating elements bear upon and compress the dressing packs P
intermediate the heating elements 16a and b in the heating space
52.
The heating elements may be of any suitable type having
electrically conductive heating members or cores 54 extending
substantially throughout the heating elements 16a and b between
respective outer fluid impervious covers 56a and b which define
the front and back surfaces of the respective heating elements
16a and b. The heating elements 16a and b preferably have elas-
tic pad members 58a and 58b separating the opposed walls of the
flexible covers 56a and b, such that the heating elements 16a and
b are sufficiently flexible and elastic to yield slightly during
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compression of the dressing packs intermediate the heating ele-
ments 16a and b in the closed position of the housing 12. In a
suitable form, the heating elements 16a and b may comprise sepa-
rate heating pads, Model H-9000, sold by Essex International,
Inc., Belton, South Carolina.
With reference to Fig. 2, the heating member of heating
element 16b is electrically connected to the heating member of
heating element 16a by suitable electrically conductive wires
60a and b, and the interconnected heating members of the heating
elements 16a and b are electrically connected to a power supply
wire 62 having a suitable plug (not shown) which may be attached
to a power source outlet providing a source of electrical current
for the heating members, such that the electrical current passing
through the connected heating members results in generation of
heat. The connecting wire 62 may have a suitable On-Off switch
64 in order to control the selective passage of electrical current
to the heating members and control the heating condition of the
system 10. The heating elements are thermostatically controlled
at a temperature in a temperature range desired for the dressings,
such as 115-120F., and the system may have a suitable device of
known type to control and modify the temperature generated by the
heating elements 16a and b at a selected temperture in the range.
The dressing packs P are of known type and may have
moist dressings D located between outer fluid impervious foil
envelopes E for maintaining the dressings D in a moist condition
prior to use. With reference to Fig. 1, the shells 14a and b are
moved to the open first position of the housing 12, and, as pre-
viously described, a plurality of dressing packs P may be placed
on one of the heating elements 16a or b. The housing 12 may then
be moved to its closed second position, as shown in Fig. 5, such
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that the heating elements 16a and b bear against and compress
the dressing packs P. The switch 64 may be placed in the On
position, resulting in heating of the dressing packs in the
closed housing chamber 32. Thus, a plurality of dressings D are
simultaneously heated to a precisely controlled temperature in
the closed housing 12, and, after the dressings have been heated
a sufficient length of time, the housing 12 may be opened to per-
mit access to the heated wet dressings for use, if desired.
Alternatively, with reference to Fig. 6, the heated dressings
may be removed from the heating space 52 intermediate the heating
elements 16a and b, and may be placed in the storage spaces 48a
and b through the access openings 50a and b where the heated
dressings are maintained at the desired temperature by the back
side of the heating elements 16a.and b. Thus, the dressings are
maintained at the desired temperature in the storage spaces 48a
and b until ready for use, with the insulation members 34a and b
preventing heat loss from the housing both during initial heating
of the dressings in the heating space 52 and during storage in
the storage spaces 48a and b.
After placement of the heating dressings into the stor-
age spaces 48a and b, additional dressings may be placed into the
heating space 52 intermediate the heating elements 16a and b to
permit the initial heating of further dressings while the stored
dressings are maintained at the desired temperature. In this man-
ner, a plurality of dressings may be simultaneously heated, and
the heated dressings may be stored for subsequent use during heat-
ing of further dressings to provide a number of heated wet dress-
ings which are available for simultaneous use on a patient. The
dressings are then removed from the envelopes and may be placed
on the patient, as neeaed, with the heating system 10 preventing
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overheating of the dressings which otherwise might cause discom-
fort and possible harm to the patient.
Another embodiment of a heating element for the heating
system is illustrated in Fig. 7, in which like reference numerals
designate like parts. In this embodiment, the heating element 16
has a pair of opposed covers 70 defining a cavity 72 to receive
the central portion 74 of a heating conduit 76 which extends in a
desired configuration throughout the cavity 72. One end portion
78 of the conduit 76 is connected to a source of heating fluid
(not shown), such as heated water, and the fluid is circulated by
suitable means through the central portion 74 of the conduit 76
after which the fluid returns through a second end portion 80 of
the conduit 72 in order to supply heat to the element 16.
Another embodiment of a heating element for the heating
system of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 8, in
which like reference numerals designate like parts. In this
embodiment, the heating element 16 has a pair of opposed fluid
impervious covers 70 sealed together at their edges to define a
fluid receiving cavity 72. A first conduit 82 is connected
between a source of heating fluid and the cavity 72, such that
heated fluid is supplied through the conduit 82 to the cavity 72,
and the fluid is returned through a second conduit 84 in order
to circulate the heated fluid through the cavity 72 and supply
heat to the element 16.
The foregoing detailed description is given for clear-
ness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should
be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to
those skilled in the art.
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